Churches to put their tax status on the line for the GOP?

Churches to put their tax status on the line for the GOP?
Posted May 9th, 2008 at 1:20 pm



Federal tax law, as it relates to tax-exempt religious ministries, is pretty clear — houses of worship may not legally intervene in political campaigns, either in support of or opposition to a candidate or a party. Those who violate the law run the risk of losing their tax-exempt status. With some regularity, the IRS reminds houses of worship about this, warning them about the dangers of ignoring the law.

A far-right group in Arizona, however, has an idea: conservative churches should ignore the law — and in the process, test the law — on purpose.



In other words, the Alliance Defense Fund wants these churches to commit an act of civil disobedience. According to the WSJ report, ADF hoped to find as many as 50 ministries to take part in the project, and the group has heard from about 80 ministers who expressed interest in participating.

more...

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15487.html

God will provide for us, and if the Republicans get elected, the Republicans will cover our asses allowing us to intervene in politics again and again.

The church and the state are only separated when the Republicans don't like who is on the pulpit.

They harassed that liberal church for two years and quietly dropped the "investigation".

Now, the leaders in "having plans and ideas" :sarcasm: have co-opted another liberal idea and bastardized it to fit their own narrow agenda: protest will now be used to maintain power for the powerful.

What a bunch of tools.

but I'm not holding my breath. However, I hope that the justices see the broader picture in this--if they uphold the right of "Christian" churches to be politically active, that means they have to give that same right to other religious groups--unless they declare this a "Christian" nation, and then the Constitution is dead anyway.

They both collect money from their members(Dues or Tithes)and both types of organizations support politicians, that "not all their cash contributing members support."

The unions usually support democrats, so they have to pay taxes, thanks to the GOP dominated congress.

The Churches support republicans, so, thanks to the same GOP dominated congress, they are STILL tax exempt, even though the churches do the exact same thing the unions do, when it comes to money and politics.

tithe, –noun 1. Sometimes, tithes. the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Tithes

dues, –noun 8. Usually, dues. a regular fee or charge payable at specific intervals, esp. to a group or organization: membership dues.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dues

if you define that term as defying what you believe to be an unjust law in order to draw attention to it and push for change. This law was not forced on churches..they explicitly accepted the constraint on partisan politicking when they voluntarily accepted tax-exempt status, so they cannot claim that their treatment is unjust. Tax-exempt status is not a constitutional right for churches or any other organizations; it is granted only with the agreement that it comes with certain restrictions. If churches want to endorse candidates, they are perfectly free to do so, if they also give up their tax-exempt status, as some religious organizations have done.

you're right, if they engage in political speech and then pay taxes, there's nothing controversial or interesting about it.
the political speech itself isn't an issue, it's only the announced intention and then the eventual act of filing for tax-exempt status after having engaged in political speech that's the act of "civil disobedience".

doesn't make for as much drama that way, though, so they gloss over that point....

oh wait
they might like that